Ethical computing information wall by Richard C Paton

Ten Commandments of Computer Ethics

patonric — 2025-09-28 18:37:04 UTC

1. Thou Shalt Not Use A Computer To Harm Other People.

2. Thou Shalt Not Interfere With Other People’s Computer Work.

3. Thou Shalt Not Snoop Around In Other People’s Computer Files.

4. Thou Shalt Not Use A Computer To Steal.

5. Thou Shalt Not Use A Computer To Bear False Witness.

6. Thou Shalt Not Copy Or Use Proprietary Software For Which You Have Not Paid.

7. Thou Shalt Not Use Other People’s Computer Resources Without Authorization Or Proper Compensation.

8. Thou Shalt Not Appropriate Other People’s Intellectual Output.

9. Thou Shalt Think About The Social Consequences Of The Program You Are Writing Or The System You Are Designing. 10. Thou Shalt Always Use A Computer In Ways That Insure Consideration And Respect For Your Fellow Humans.

Which of the Ten Ethical Computing Guidelines do you think students violate most often?

patonric — 2025-09-28 19:04:01 UTC

I think students most often violate #6: Thou shalt not copy or use proprietary software for which you have not paid. This is because students download music and software that they don't pay for and use. They also watch movies online illegally, using different websites, and they download certain movies.

Why do you think these violations occur?

patonric — 2025-09-28 19:12:03 UTC

I think these violations occur because people don't care, a lack of awareness, and if others do it, then the influence of people doing it. People don't feel like paying for subscriptions like YouTube TV, Netflix, Hulu, Etc. So people will share passwords to get out of the monthly payments. Other people may not realize they are violating these ethics. Such as sharing files, they may think it's ok, but they do not even realize it is violating a computing guideline.

What do you think could be done to reduce or eliminate such unethical behavior?

patonric — 2025-09-28 19:39:05 UTC

What I think can be done to reduce or eliminate such unethical behavior is to first teach young students these computing guidelines. I'm 21 years old, and this is the first time I have ever seen these computing guidelines. I think if we taught young students these guidelines, then I don't think they would get violated as much.